Filtration

Good filtration is an extremely important part of any aquarium system. The purpose of your filtration system is to guarantee that the water in you aquarium is the higest quality it can be.This means that your filter system has to do more than just make your water appear "clean", your water also has to have a high oxygen concentration and contain no toxins.

There are three types of filtration used in freshwater and marine aquariums -- mechanical, chemical and biological. A good mixture utilizing all three types of filtration is best.

Fritz Pet Products carries a wide variety of filtration products to make you aquarium the healthiest it can be.

Mechanical Filtration

Mechanical filtration is used to remove the particulate matter suspended in the water column before it decomposes and adds to the ammonia load. It is important for mechanical filtratioin to be the first part of any filtration system, because it removes large organic matter thta can clog the chemical and biological phases of your filter system.

Sponge filters, corner filters, and canister filters with a filter cartridge are good examples of mechanical filters and do a good job removing this particulate matter. It is important, however,to clean these filters often, If you do not clean them you haven't removed anything, you've only moved it. So, if you use a mechanical filter, clean it often.

See:
      •  MATALA™ Bio Media
      •  Filter Floss
      •  Filter Pads
      •  Filter Bags

Chemical Filtration

Chemical Filtration is the use of chemically enhanced products, such as carbon or zeolite, to remove copper, dissolved organics, nitrate/nitrite/ammonia, phosphates, etc.

Activated Carbon is used to remove:chlrorine, chloramine, organic compounds, some medications, copper, and dyes

Zeolite is used to remove ammonia, nitrate, and phosphates.

See:
      •  Activated Carbon
      •  Phosphate Remover

Biological Filtration

Biological filtration is the most important part of any filtration system. Biological filtration utilizes bacteria to break down waste material (ammonia and nitrites) in the water.

Biological filtration allows the beneficial bacteria necessary to support the nitrogen cycle a place to grow. Biological filtration is simply bacteria converting ammonia to nitrite, then nitrite to to nitrate. Adding Fritz-Zyme #7 Freshwater, Fritz-Zyme #9 Saltwater, or TURBO0 START #700 Freshwater or TURBO START #900 Saltwater formulas to your aquairum will boost your biological filtration by adding live bacteria to your system.

Examples of filters that take advantage of biological filtration include undergravel filters, bio balls in wet dry systems, and live rock

See:
      •  Bio Balls
      •  Fritz-Zyme #7 Freshwater
      •  Fritz-Zyme #9 Saltwater
      •  TURBO START #700 Freshwater
      •  TURBO START #900 Saltwater

See Also:

• Nitrifying Bacteria